Season 1 - Episode 10 - Brandon Cook - Black N' Blue, The Loyal Order

Non-Stop Rock Talk speaks with Black N' Blue and The Loyal Order guitarist about many topics including his inspiration to play music, his early influences and the musicians that he has learned from. Of course there is talk of Black N' Blue and The Loyal Order, as well as Guns N' Roses, Megadeth, Motley Crue and Kiss. This one is a whirlwind, so sit back, relax and take it all in. 

Transcript

spk_1:   0:09
way off the last row of this locked out life. I wish I could say nice to know you got to show you You must never change. No. Now wait with prices like right, Right. Hey, Bret. And welcome to a nonstop rock talk. It's really a pleasure to have you on the show.

spk_0:   1:06
Oh, thanks, man. I'm very happy to be here. Uh, Runa Runa Real busy business over on the Senate, this'd of the country. And I'm just having a blast. Making music

spk_1:   1:18
is awesome. So sometimes as we well, I mean, we'll get into a bunch of stuff off, you know, like black and blue. And what not, But tell me a little about what you've been up to musically as of late. I understand you have You have quite a bit on the gold. Musically, of course you do. Black and blue, there's Guns n Roses tribute and Loyal order.

spk_0:   1:36
Yeah, my my primary like means of income and like one of the things I focused on the most is is my guitar lessons. I teach lessons to basically all ages and all skill levels, but mostly have been finding some higher little guitar players and working on, Um uh, like a lot of heavy jazz chords and people who are sort of doing college prep type lessons. So they're getting ready to go into, like, a music program of some sort, either high school or college, and they need extra level. I have a music degree and, like having a plan gets are for, you know, over 30 years. So like it's I have. And I went to music school when I was when I was in my teens and twenties, and I just have a lot of a lot to offer a higher end guitar student. So, um, that's that's been one of my main focus is working on people who are kind of taking it to the Hyatt level. But I also worked with brands, bank and new beginners of all ages. And I just love that to teaching somebody how to play a C chord can be just as fun is like a C sharp diminished at nine thing. You know, I used like halfway, really, uh, you know, theory terms there, but I really like, I just I just like to know all because people, people of all ages and all skill owes love music. And they have different variety of reasons for from learning music. Some people just want to sit in their living room and and strong accord, and that makes them feel peaceful. And other people want to be on stage in front of millions of people. And that's what they want to do it. I'm happy to teach anybody, get where they want to go. So

spk_1:   3:31
fantastic. I actually talking to her for a little bit. And I must Yeah. And I always loved it when a kid would come in and like, right off the beginning, you'd be able to be like, you get excited because you're like, you can tell this kid has that whatever you call like, that instinct to play guitar, so you know what I mean. So I mean, you get those kids and you're just like it is like, really pumps you up because you're like, you wanted to see some everything that you know because, you know, like, you know, that they may be able to do it right?

spk_0:   4:07
Oh, yeah. That kid gets a fire hose of information. Sometimes you like that. It's great. Yeah,

spk_1:   4:18
I remember like that what this one kid I had, He came to me and he was like, he was big into, like, Megadeth and stuff like that. So we started, like, learning stuff off a rusted piece like this Marty Friedman stuff, and he wanted to learn that Joe sacked three Andy. And it was just like that, Really? For my playing wise as well, Because I was doing that and I had to learn all this stuff to teach him. It's just my playing, just like I was so like in the zone, right? Because I'm learning all this stuff and you know, not stuff that I would normally like because I have so much other stuff on the goal, but not normally stuff. I would sit down and listen to and learn, So So I was pretty, you know?

spk_0:   5:01
Yeah, that is really cool like I do. I have ah story about Megadeth, like the very first song I ever learned ever. Who was with Wake Up dead by maggot ass school. And, you know, for years I you know often on I played that song and my buddy Taison, not you, Tyson Tyson, Tyson Leslie from from Vixen. He said he said. Me and another guy. His name is Dakota. Down and up with playing with Dirk and David Elson on the mega cruise This last this last October eso meet me and Dakota and Taison We got to play with negative half of magadha was so rad

spk_1:   5:43
That's too cool, man, that would be awesome.

spk_0:   5:46
It was like the very first song I ever learned, and I got to play it with the guys. You know,

spk_1:   5:51
that would be cool. I mean, for me as well. That would be like such an honor. And I've always wanted to as a guitar player is like, I always wanted that opportunity And it's never happened where I got to play with with one of Blake somebody that I grew up listening to and that s o I can totally relate. Oh, that is so cool. Oh,

spk_0:   6:11
I mean, the way that I've kind of got to be able to do that. It's just work with. And mostly because of black blue, you know, that has afforded me some amazing opportunities, you know? Thanks, Jamie in Peat and Pat appreciate it. And But they, uh they really me up with some really amazing things. So I'm very grateful for that

spk_1:   6:35
is awesome. So you know what's funny? Talking about a black and blue? I'm gonna ask you a bit kind of history, but like how he got into black and Blue. But I do want to mention this. So yesterday somebody posted on Facebook that it was the 36th anniversary yesterday of the debut album.

spk_0:   6:52
Uh huh. That's right.

spk_1:   6:54
Right. And I was just like, Oh, that's cool. So So, anyways, um, my house got robbed back in September and, like, I lost a couple of laughing. Yeah. And I lost like, four guitar isn't I lost like 200 albums was up.

spk_0:   7:09
I remember that. Re posting about that.

spk_1:   7:11
Yeah. So anyway, so to enlighten the story a little bit, though. So I've been like replacing Tana Vinyls. I lost the first black and Blue and I lost in heat, but they didn't take without love and nasty nasty because they're in a different spot. It was really kind of bizarre, but anyway, so I've been replacing the albums, and I went on disk Ox and I bought a new copy off the first black and blue, and I get it comes in the mail and it's not even opened. Really? Yeah. Yeah. I was just like, Wow, but I opened it. I did it because I take care of my albums and, like, I'm really being a little about it. But it's like I have to open it because I have to hear it. So it was pretty awesome. Toa have this 36 year old album brand new to play like right out of the pockets. That was just so cool.

spk_0:   8:07
So is it Newell stock? Or was it like I actually knew? Pretty.

spk_1:   8:11
I know it was old stock it. I mean, I think it's on Geffen. I think somebody had it in their collection and probably just never. Maybe they weren't into the band, so they never opened it. I have no idea. But when I got it and I pulled it out of the box, I was just like, this is too cool

spk_0:   8:30
school, man, I'm excited. I have a story about that too, man. I went to L. A. You know, when I went to go do the mega cruise and I was with Fred and we were talking about records and I was like I just was like, Yeah, Black blues New record or about black and blues record would be like, right here. And I reached over and I pulled the bees open. The very first city was the first black blue records. Jamie ST James staring at me, and I'm just like, Oh, hey, it

spk_1:   9:01
s so cool. Oh, man, this is it. And it's funny, because in heat album that I lost Remember at some when I met you initially Rocket skull, we were backstage and I got Jamie and, uh, talk to sign it. And I was like, You gotta sign this for me, man. Good. And but I lost. It is gone, and I don't think you know what You know what? Everything working is working out and a lot of the stuff I'm replacing, I'm actually getting I'm able to find better copies and because some of the stuff I had for a long time since I was probably like a teenager So look, I've been really particular about replacing it and going on disc cause and find, like, the right ones. So there's a silver lining in the whole story at the end. Um, as for guitars. I've, um I have a strike, but I replaced it with the agent Smith Jackson, and I've got that. What's that? Oh,

spk_0:   10:07
great guitar

spk_1:   10:09
smoking man. The neck is so fast on it. And so I mean, there's just It's like, Okay, I got robbed and I'm making the best of it. It sucks, but in the end, it's turning out OK, right. So

spk_0:   10:22
Oh, yeah, Absolutely. I lost a couple of guitars, do you? A couple of years ago. I know exactly how you feel that. It's like it's one of the worst feeling in the world to go back to your vehicle and see windows smashed in and more everything on.

spk_1:   10:39
Yeah, this was I mean, it was it was all in the bait in our basement. You and I had, like, four guitars that had lost Paul Ricci cost and Telecaster my Strat in the ah warmed martini San Dimas rot bomber. And they were and I left the medical her own stands, right? Like how before stand. Right. So I had them on there and they took him. And the worst part about it is they didn't even take the cases. Oh, really? Yeah, yeah. I was. It's kind of

spk_0:   11:11
fucked up.

spk_1:   11:12
Yeah. Guitars. Yeah, it was. It's disgusting. Just to think that these amazing guitars are like, they don't care. They're just a bunch of thieves, and they're just going to take them. They don't care if they're even in a case. Yeah, exactly. You know, like to you and I That's just like you're just like what? Really? So,

spk_0:   11:33
yeah, they're just thinking I can sell this. Yeah. Make 50 bucks out this.

spk_1:   11:37
Yeah. Yeah, which is crazy anyways? I mean, it all turned out. Okay, Um, so I kind of wanted to discuss actually how you came to be because Harris in a black and blue.

spk_0:   11:52
Uh, that's a good question. Um, I had met Patrick a couple of times before before I was asked to be in a band, but our old old guitarists, Sean Sunshine, he and I met at one of five guns and roses tribute shows in in Portland, Oregon. My guns nroses tribute band is is it's a very popular group, you know, way usually sell out the venues that we play here, um, and just have done a really good job, like marketing that group as much as we can, you know? Of course, we're you know, we're using the guns and roses name, so it makes it a little easier. But, um, you know, we still got to play this stuff, which is pretty hard to accurately reproduce it, because you can't just play perfect and make it sound. Guns and roses. You have to play kind of sloppy. And you have to be a rock n roll down and you have to really, really, really the irrational, Not just like we're pretending the rock roll back you got. I know how to do this. And, uh So Sean picked up on that when he saw me playing. He's like because he was having some think something was going on with marital issues or something. He's like, he was thinking of leaving the group, and he thought that I would be the guy that could replace him. And so we talked after the show that night, and he's like Then he told me what I just told you. I was like, I might, you know, might not be able to be in black blue much longer. I might be stepping away and then right around that time, Maybe six months or a year. I can't remember how long it was, but ah woof. Our original guitarist, Jeff would Warner. He left the group on his own choice and like I think he had some health issues that he needed to tend to and so Sean and are staying in the group because he was asked him and just stick it out and we'll do, you know, we'll get a new guitar player and a couple other guys. I think I'm trying out before me. And then when they didn't work out, for whatever reason, I was asked to come audition, um, for the group. So I was doing my typical, like, take a gig, get it done, you know, is a little known as possible and play my butt off and then go on to the next gig. That's what I normally you know. I don't think that's how you stay working as a musician, and I have this Iron Maiden gig coming up, and I remember what I was walking through the grocery store, talking about on the phone, you know, getting a drink for my for my reversal that day. And I'm like Hey, if you want to really see what I can do, just come out and watch me play are made in this weekend, You know, I have, you know, we're doing like, ah, most of power slave. We actually did that night. We did. Powerless. Later, the song we did rite of the Ancient Mariner was like, Do you want to see how good I could play? We're playing all these things, so I think you'll be able to be impressed. And if you don't like my playing from there, just, you know, it's okay. I understand. And they were very interested after that show. Patrick called me. Monday is all right. I like playing learn these five songs and come prepared on Wednesday. I was really fast because I know what it is. He wanted to see how fast I could get prepared because our very first gig was mid October. The I guess it was the rock and skull in in 2013. Which, which was it the skull fest? Where was that? Was that

spk_1:   15:38
Gulf Rocket Skull was in Illinois.

spk_0:   15:42
Okay, this one was in a number. Aska.

spk_1:   15:44
Okay, so

spk_0:   15:45
So its skull fist and a grass. It was my first show. And, uh, my second shows that the whiskey actually cool, sold out show whiskey, I think. But the first show was only six weeks to get prepared, and they wanted to see how fast I can learn tune. So they gave me, you know, all on the 18 kiss of death. Nasty, nasty, uh, school of hard knocks and on the king. And that's a lot of fast shit right out of the gate to learn. And I was like, All right, man, this is what you want to learn. I'll do it, you know? So I learned as much as I could before I got there, because I had a day and 1/2 really to do it. And, uh wow, they I think they were really impressed with how fast I was learning. And I had a couple of experiences that really got me up to speed on howto learn music really fast. Uh, I tried todo I auditioned for Marty Friedman's Ban in 2003 and I made a deal with this like a man. If I don't, I don't get into your band. You know, if you're not ready I think I'll just chalk it up his lesson so well, kind of. You know, I'll just kind of be your entire bitch for for a while while, you know, while you find out who you wanted it. So I got several opportunities to play with Marty Friedman, and he just kicked my butt all over the street. You know, like teaching me how to play with the Metrodome and get prepared, you know, playing in a professional setting. And so when I brought that still set to playing with black and Blue, I think they were really impressed with how fast and how accurate I could learn songs and just how flexible I would be when you know Hey, that start that part, let's go this way. You know, do this and okay, Yeah, whatever. Got And and, uh, the it I think my my contribution to the band became pretty high level That pretty quickly because, you know, when I noticed that Pete Holmes played with a click track, I was like, Dude, Pete, place with quick. Why don't you just get the tempos from him and we'll play the click track in rehearsal and all of a sudden black and blue is like we used to be. You know, I used to be a little bit looser and now wrapped black blues like album tight every every gig. And we really I'm not saying that that's all me, you know. Bad itself is very good as players. Shawn's a great guitar player, and Patrick's really amazing bass player. So, uh, getting to play with those guys was really a step up for me, and I took it very seriously from the beginning. It's like, OK, on my first day, Michael sweet and hot spots are staying in the hallway talking my guitar player. So this is the level right here, and TV is in my face, so I better be ready for shit. And, you know, they were gonna do gigs with Rat and then we're gonna do it. I mean, like, it's at some point down the road. We're going on monsters, Rock cruise And look at who's on the Monster Rock cruise and you see, you know, Red Beach and you see you know Sebastian Bach and you see all these guys. So, uh, without further ado, I just say right from the get go It was a huge increase in trajectory of like, seriousness of getting ready for for a bit, for life play. Yeah, expected me very deeply. That's how I got the black. Wow. That's

spk_1:   19:17
pretty cool, though, man. Like just to hear how you explain it, just like you took it. So, like you like saying, Oh, there's Michael Sweet and Oz Fox like, Oh, you're pretty cool. And that you took it like you're like, you're talking to the next level to the point where you're like, I've gotta be on my game.

spk_0:   19:36
Absolutely. I've always been kind of that way. Once I once I met Marty Friedman, he was like, If you wanna have these kind of get He said he basically just said, If you want to be ready for these times of gigs, you have to be studio ready the day of the audition. Marie, it's invested by side Forgot studio ready the day of auditions. And I go, Why he goes, Well, you don't get six months of rehearsal with it. With much bands, they card if they hire you because you got fired and you're either going on tour the next day, we're going to the studio. So if you want to get with with my bed, you have to be studio type because that's how tired I am. And I went Oh, okay.

spk_1:   20:18
I'll make some.

spk_0:   20:19
Okay, that makes sense. Now, I understand why you're you're annoyed with me because I'm not ready. But, hey, wasn't really he was just like he was just teaching me. He was He gave me an opportunity to learn from them, and, uh, he he took the teaching part of it very seriously. And I took the learning part of it very seriously, too. Because of that, I had an opportunity to play with Metallica. And I won this contest because I just practiced the way you already told me. A practice. Why? And then right after that, because I did that Metallica thing. I got a chance to play with Chris Caffrey from Sabotage Trans Siberian Orchestra. And I got that game because I just practice late. Marty told me in practice. Wow. And I didn't really have much story experience at the time. So like I said, the trajectory was change really quickly, you know, working with guys like that. Um, so much. But my actual practical touring experience wasn't very strong, so they could tell I wasn't really ready. I was a little too green. I could play. You know, I could. I could really play. But like, there's a certain amount of experience of traveling and all that stuff you have to have when you're getting ready to go touring. Otherwise, you're just you don't There's an emotional part of during the better under control before you get on the road, and it just gets a little bit weird. You know, the touring is it's hard on. Those guys were all veterans. The Chris Caffrey Band was. Everybody in town was better. It was Chris Caffrey, Jeff play, my buddy Paul o'clock and the summer before. I think it was the summer before we worked together. He had been on tour with with Theo to, uh, opening for poison and kissed. So he had been out there playing keyboards and checking and all this stuff for all these guys. And so everybody else is a man like extensive story resident and I was like the green work and but then I did before I joined Black and Blue ended eight years with my cousin Rose's ban. We we toured all over the Northwest and played surges, you know, Got some really, really hard core stage show. We have a pretty, pretty intense date show. You know, we build our bill, our cabinet, still the drum riser. Do it all ourselves One guy when he's available and, you know, just play three and 1/2 hour. We used to play three and 1/2 our guns and roses sets just like guns and roses. Wow.

spk_1:   22:51
So what do you do? Is that you guys do straight set? Sir, I'd like to do a straight through our do you do it. Three sets.

spk_0:   23:00
We did the entire night straight through. Wow. Yeah. So, like, by the time I have two black blue overplaying like 30 minutes, half sets on festivals were never 40 minutes that some festivals I had lenses on and I have to play like slash and slash is a pillar to post running. You know what? I like those guys run all over the place. So to look and act like those guys and have that kind of standing on stage was it was easy for me. You know, when I got the black blue was like, Yeah, of course I'm gonna play in giant stage and and, uh, no run from that part to that part over there and then drop in play solo. Yeah.

spk_1:   23:42
I mean, well, I I mean, I did interview thing to, um 40 years I did a I played Richie in Ah, Bon Jovi tribute.

spk_0:   23:51
Nice. And that's a That's a tough gig right there.

spk_1:   23:54
Yeah, and so that was I mean, so I can totally relate to that. And I think there's some musicians that don't under they don't understand that. I mean, you get the thing. Well, you're an attribute man, so it doesn't require you doing your own music. It's like, Well, hey, I enjoy doing it and be the Krauser there and people come in and see you and they love it, you know? So and like we we did some small things and we did some fly dates and stuff like that. So I can totally relate what you're saying. I mean it it was a blast, and, um, hopefully, in the future I will get back into that again, and I may do it again, and that's kind of what I'm working towards, so

spk_0:   24:40
Oh, yeah, Attributes. Their tributes are really great ways. Continue playing, and, you know, for me it was I had to look at it scientifically like Okay, well, how how do I get to, You know, not being a greenhorn with the band like The Chris Caffrey bet, because those guys were often on when I was playing at their level, but I didn't have. That's like That's like 1/4 of what you need to be touring Musician that's about the most is at the most 1/4 what you have to be like. It's probably 10% you know, like everything else is like business savvy social skills. You know, uh, your home life taking care of in a way that's like can be managed while you're gone, uh, financially stable, You know, uh, so that you have income while you're gone. All that stuff, you know, you have to have so many things dial in. And, uh, getting into a tribute man gave me the opportunity to learn how to do that. Right, Because I still have the same goals, is me. And I also like, OK, these guys want to play in an international level. You know, he's got the guns and roses guys that I play, that they want to play at a national or international level. They don't want, like, a local band. They want it. And it's like, Okay, so are our goals are aligned, you know, and are playing abilities. They're alive. Now. We have to, like, rise up. You know, we started office of $500 man. You know, we get 10 or 15 grand sometimes doing what we do now. So way. Just we built ourselves up to this place where we, you know, we're pretty known around the country is one of the best guns and roses tribute bands in the world. So it's ah Wei started telling everybody that at first we were, like, wear, like where the best guys restaurant down plan because then you have to do it. You know, it's like you tell people that you have to do it. Yes. You know, like, Oh, yeah, really? The best guys. It was a tribute plan. That's like being the king of whatever, you know? Yeah, it's like that's like being the king of tadpoles or something. Oh, yeah. Really? Yeah. Okay, Well, here's a Here's what we sound like. Check this out. People be like, Oh, my God. You know, they'd be blown away because we didn't We didn't hold back. We're like, we're gonna be the best in the world and gave it everything he had looks, sounds, playing ability, everything right. And we're also nice. And we didn't like, you know, show up two hours late to the game either. So

spk_1:   27:16
So the ox well, doesn't he doesn't have not into that.

spk_0:   27:19
No, he's an attitude, but it's a better attitude, front man like that. To be a front man in any in any, you have to have, like, a strong, you know, kind of k headed out to, you know, like you do have to be that way. You know, musicians have to be that way because you're facing. You know, if you want to play at that level, you're facing potentially 10,000 people a night. Yeah, and you know, if you can't if you're not a little bit pig headed, you know, as a musician, you're not gonna be able to like, really strongly go at that kind of an audience. You're gonna You're gonna doubting violet, you know, stand in the corner crying because you don't know how to deal with 10,000 people staring at you. Yeah, very. Uh, I say that Reese is because recently I played in three and there was, like, eight. I think it was 1000 10,000 people's plan. And I wasn't even nervous. I was just like people Nice. Yeah,

spk_1:   28:20
I was I was actually I was there. And, uh, I was there that night. You guys, that was awesome, man. Oh, so good. It was different. Like because I seen you guys at Rock and Skull on the stage was smaller and it was really loud in that venue And then seeing you guys on the M three, the bigger stage I think that was actually was just better. You guys were where you belong Where you're black and blue should be is all in not bigger stage, You know what I mean?

spk_0:   28:50
Well, I appreciate you saying that, you know, because I believe that too. Really, though I mean, like these guys, that pedigree for black blues, they open for kiss all their touring, literally almost all of their touring. They did, and aids was playing in arenas they were opening for major bands like Aerosmith, Kiss, Ted Nugent Guns. And I think They They Started is direct support for Maybe it was Ted and Guns and Roses was opening. So, like they walked that that walk, you know? But I think it was their first tour. One of the first American tour is one of the first Couple was like Aerosmith was the headliner, and Jamie ST James was telling me like he had his first real emotional like breakdown because he walked And this because he was he had met one of his dreams. He walked into where he was supposed to go on stage and it was a map and said, Stevens, Tyler stands here. Whoa! And he was just like, This is where I'm meant to be. This is what I meant to do, and that's it. So, yeah, like we we definitely thrive on a bigger stage II like plant small venues. I like seeing people read up close and sweaty and yeah, that whole thing, I could live there, but I definitely feel more at home on a big stage. Yeah, you know?

spk_1:   30:15
Yeah. There's something about it. I mean, that night was amazing because you guys played And, um, I believe enough's enough with chips enough on vocals played and then kicks that Friday night was killer. It was just so is like black and blue and then kicks. And it's like all these songs that I grew up listening to, and I was just loved it. It was it was a good guy. End on that. I mean, the other two nights, the other two days were amazing, too. Is this Friday night? I was kind of cool because I mean Kecks being local and then playing, you know, like, you see everybody in that audience, they all know the words all their songs. It was just like, Wow, this is This is probably the only place on the planet that everybody knows every kicks.

spk_0:   30:58
Yeah, right. Exactly. And they play every year. That was weird for me to be going on after, because me, I'm I didn't get to be on TV and stuff like that, you know? But tohave kit, we're and like, that's enough kind of opening for my bed. Yeah, like maybe Jamie and Jamie and Pat. They kind of got it. Jimmy Jimmy's Indiana played drums, so he's that they're all been on TV, you know, many times. And I'm just, like, replacement guitar player guy. Like I'm thinking of myself. I just played direct support. Two kicks after Kip, Winger and chips. Enough. This is amazing.

spk_1:   31:38
I would feel the exact same way. I probably have to pinch myself to say like that. Not really. Just hop.

spk_0:   31:44
I was I was part of that.

spk_1:   31:49
Yeah, It wasn't good afterparty, too. I think I was. I was there till about three o'clock in the morning. But

spk_0:   31:55
did you see me and Torey and Jamie and Jimmy and Pat playing kissing? And yes,

spk_1:   32:03
I did. I didn't see that.

spk_0:   32:06
Yeah, I think, uh, you see that?

spk_1:   32:10
I think we all were. So it didn't matter. I mean, I was I was in the bar for a little bit, and then we made our way down there. I missed Tora Tora. Apparently they came off the plane and then jumped on the stage. But I'm not sure when that was like I don't know if that was after you guys air before you guys. I don't mean I was I had quite a few beers at that point to So I didn't remember a whole lot.

spk_0:   32:34
Oh, yeah, Yeah, I had quite a few. I was really enjoying it because it was so like the set we played was really exciting. And, you know, and I love Pete Holmes. Holmes is one of my heroes of all time. You know, getting a play with him is just is just ridiculous. And then I got to play with somebody. Was like, laterally. Another person that I really on influenced by is, uh, Jimmy Deanna s O. You know, like, he was one of the first. Peopie really taught me a lot about how to play in bands like this. You know, he one night in, uh, it was Oklahoma. He sat me down and he was like, Okay, here's what You're not kid and taught me Ah, hole, like, two hours. We just set out talking about how to play in the pocket and, like, be a rhythm section. And I was like, Okay, you know, and I've been working on that ever since. So then when I get to play with, you know, somebody like Jimmy. Deanna? Yeah, his life. You busy now? I get to be like piers with these guys. And I feel like I feel like I'm supposed to be playing with guys like Pete. Jenny, it it was really exciting experience for me that night.

spk_1:   33:55
I would be sad because I lost a little boy. So I mean, make actually just came on Makes way to Just came on the show a couple of weeks ago. I haven't I haven't finished it. And I still gotta composed it, but makes off.

spk_0:   34:10
Mick is one of the nicest dudes I've met in this business. He is so cool he will hear a wo man. Him and Jimmy and a couple of friends of ours had dinner on the last months of Veracruz, and I was were me and Jimmy and and, uh and we're talking and everyone was just kind of run around the table and I was like, Oh, sorry. Let me interrupt you. And he's like, no finish what you were saying and I'm like, Oh, shit. Next waiter just told me to finish my sentence, have exceeded dislike, keep talking over maybe whatever he was like he was like, Really? I want to hear what you have to say, like, that's really weird. Okay,

spk_1:   34:45
Yeah, mixed this. I've interviewed him a couple times. He's always awesome, and he's always like accommodating all this massive Jim. And I'll be like, Hey, Mac, you wanna I got this podcast thing. You want to come on the show And he's like, Sure, man, when? And he's always awesome. And it was hard this time to do that interview because, um, we had touched on so much the last time that I didn't want to talk about saying things. Sure you know what I mean. Why do the same thing twice? I mean, before it was a written interview. This time it's a podcast, but I'm not going to do that. It's like people already read that. So you know So But it was still it was still good. We talked about the reunion and everything, which was which was more or less what I wanted to talk to base with him because I wanted to hear about that. Because I just think that is so cool that they finally figured it all, eh?

spk_0:   35:36
Yeah. I hope they come to Portland because I really want to see those guys play.

spk_1:   35:40
Yeah, yeah, I hear those songs live because I never got to say I've never seen them. Oh,

spk_0:   35:47
yeah, Last year on the cruise, I got to see both versions have got, uh uh, always because there it was, like the original guys with Andy. Yeah, they crushed. It was so good. And then I got to see the replacement guys with Mark with park, and they crush you like I was I was totally away. How could both these bands playing at this level, you gotta work something out.

spk_1:   36:14
That's crazy. I've seen I've seen marks. Bullet boys. Like I saw them, uh, in Lima, Ohio, and then the team control and? And they were good. They were awesome. I mean, they killed it. Um, but to see those four guys, I I'm just totally so to see that it's like it's, like, bang tangle being back together again, Like I'm pretty excited to, you know, like to see these guys finally like all the original members, he's cool. So

spk_0:   36:44
yeah, it is really cool for me to like. Big Bang was thinking it was one of my favorite bands back in the day. I love that song. Uh, someone like you

spk_1:   36:54
don't like those? Yeah,

spk_0:   36:56
really, It's It's a bittersweet for me because friends, like one of my first people I really resonated with. And like in this world with Timmy, Timmy Russell played drums with those guys. Uh, he he was super cool to me and remain out to get him and Lance both were cool way. We got shitfaced at Skull Fist and in Nebraska. How nice it was, uh, it was really fun hanging out with those guys because they just they were just like your brother, you know, right away. They were super cool. So it's bittersweet to see another bunch of people because to be those guys, like they were in a band, like a really long time thio down since mid two thousands. That's almost 15 years longer than that band was functioning as an original lineup.

spk_1:   37:47
Yeah, because the original lineup was only like, a 56 year period. I think like I can't remember how long it was. I mean, the, uh the last album wasn't even released in North America. So, uh, the one after I think it's love it to death or somewhere is love. I can't remember the name of it, but it was different. Um, but yeah, it's kind of you kind of feel about for those guys because they kind of lost their gig and it was a good gig. But the fans also want to see the original five guys in bank tangle because it's been forever, right?

spk_0:   38:25
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I've always That's for me. Like all my era, most of my era was like I saw a replacement. Guys come in like example Kiss on makeup. That was my That was my kiss. Kiss with makeup was not my kisses. So people about Ace and Peter not being in the band just like okay, you know? Well, I like Bruce and in her car, you know, they're my people, you know that that's what that was. First crazy Nights was my first kiss record. And then, like, you know, Sammy Hager, everyone hes Sammy Hagar being in Van Halen don't like Well, first Van Halen song I ever heard after jump was dreams.

spk_1:   39:08
I'm the same. I think it's funny, though I think musicians kind of gravitate towards Sammy Hagar more than David Lee Roth. For some reason,

spk_0:   39:18
Yeah, he said, he's such a such a technician vocally. I mean,

spk_1:   39:22
that's right. Yeah.

spk_0:   39:23
Yeah, there was the best of both worlds, and the vocals on that are so ridiculous. I is clearly out of my range, but, like, Well, I had to do that at a jam for Izzy Presley on Muscles Around Cruz and is the is the always fix these great tunes that he's like He's like, best of both worlds. Can you do it? I'm like, Yes, I can. Who's gonna say it? He was like working on that.

spk_1:   39:49
No doubt that was such a killer album. No. 51 50 like so many good songs on it. I mean, I remember the first song I heard on. That was, Why can't this be love? And I was just like, What is this? This is just so cool, you know, like that intro were like, It's not thumping part that comes in and into the into the Rizzo.

spk_0:   40:11
Which one has that that vocal part goes dead dead at that? Yeah,

spk_1:   40:20
Why can't this people? I think that's it.

spk_0:   40:23
It's a perfect example of great vocals.

spk_1:   40:28
Yeah, I think it's hard line fault, but it's not the one. Where is that if that is the one cause Doc entire line follows that vocal worries. Doing that is ah, right, yeah, that's why can't this be love? Which is It was just such a cool thing. And people were mad because Dave's gone. But to me, Van Halen talking to a nice level.

spk_0:   40:49
Yeah, they could. Unfortunately, you know, Dave couldn't couldn't have taken that to that low because he's not that kind of entertainer Buffer. And he's, you know, when people talk about like Van Halen now or like Dave doing what he's doing, I kind of get you know why people are complaining about. But at the same time, like do the guy's an entertainer. He's He's doing what he's doing, what he's always done as Dave is. Just his voice is a little bit more tired than it used to be. He just can't do it as well. So

spk_1:   41:22
I think you have to think it for what it is. Just if you're going into it. No, that is not going to be David Lee Roth from 1984. It's gonna David Lee Roth 30 over 30 years later and just take it for what it is right?

spk_0:   41:38
Yeah. We see it with the Holocene. I'll see, like in sixties.

spk_1:   41:42
Must be. You have to be. You think? I mean, I'm not sure how old he is. Yeah, I think it was Eddie for basically two.

spk_0:   41:52
Sammy. Sammy's like, steady and he's still killing.

spk_1:   41:56
I know it's crazy. He's going on tour with Whitesnake and saying, Sammy here, Your night Ranger and White sink. Yeah, that's a killer.

spk_0:   42:05
I definitely owe

spk_1:   42:06
me, too. There's like there's a Detroit date. There's no Canadia date, but there's a Detroit date, which is four hours. And then there's a Niagara Falls New York date, and I actually might do both of those. Because I just want I mean, I love White Snake and I love Sami, and I love Night Ranger. So, yeah, you can't really go wrong with that bill, right?

spk_0:   42:28
Yeah. Now you got like, how many hits to those guys have Just between those three dads, It's like probably 30 Top 10 hiss.

spk_1:   42:36
Yeah, I actually I've only seen night rings or once, and it was on my honeymoon and we were stayed in New York City and we went to Coney Island to see Night Ranger the Romantics and were excellent field. Wow. Yeah, it was cool. And it was like an indoor venue. Like an amphitheater. Right close to the beats. Like close to the water was kick us. It was really awesome.

spk_0:   43:02
Some of my skill. The singer of the romantics,

spk_1:   43:06
that is. I'm not sure he's on his name,

spk_0:   43:08
huh? Yeah, on second. Okay. I think he doesn't think the lead singer of the band is. And your room? Yeah. Yeah, that's cool. Yeah. He lives in Portland. Need please shows around here and stuff, you know?

spk_1:   43:24
Last cool. That's cool. Um, so growing up, were you a black and blue fan growing up?

spk_0:   43:31
I actually didn't know their music just because they right. As I was getting into music, they were breaking up and moving on to different stuff. I I stopped by. One of the first advertisements I remember from Circus magazine was it was black and blue and House of Lords. It was a split page. Ah, thing advertisement. And it was from Simmons records, you know. Wow, I would be so cool being a label with Gene Simmons. Oh, my God. Yeah. You know, anybody that would like be able to do that. They must be in heaven. You know, like it turns out, you know, they were like Tommy. They're going to play with kids. And, like, James ST James played played a Jane Eyre. Lizzie? What was it? He

spk_1:   44:23
he was a drummer. And coal generates our yearly. Yeah, he was at

spk_0:   44:27
the Visit Germany, but also, like, I think, like Jean came to his wedding or something. It was like crazy. Her resign really hung out, Like during the nineties, cause Tommy and Jamie are your best friends, and yeah, and it just it just blows me away. Some of the experiences they had. So I knew of black and Blue early on, but I didn't get the record just because, you know, us 12. Yeah, I did. I didn't get a whole bunch of records at the time. I just got my favorites. And, you know, my first, my first favorite album of my own. I kiss Crazy Night was one of them. But like my first absolutely a record of all time was He says it is buying my major. And, uh so I jumped to the really heavy stuff right away. Black and blues that I had never even heard that you know at the point that I heard mega tests. I can't wait insane for Megadeth for about five years, and the first time I actually heard black and blue, you know, was very first time I ever heard a song by That was I got to meet Tommy. There's guitar Tech at the Organ Music Hall of Fame and, like my friend Tom Holland and my other friend, Kevin Rankin, and they kind of like I've been playing and Tommy's Tommy's brother's band jumped out there, and he has his own band and I was playing in his band and those two guys, they were like, Hey, do you wanna be guitar tech for Tommy? He's coming to do the Organ Music Hall of Fame thing. I was like, Yeah, yeah, I'll do it, Yeah, and because I got to do that, I was setting on Tommy's guitar. I have been getting his tone right and everything and following his specs that his guitar jackets at me. And so I just kind of play the opening refer of riff raff by CDC. Yeah, and that was like fishing in a barrel because everybody in the band jumped on that and started playing that song with me. They play to be frank with me, and I was just like, Whoa, it's just like it's just like, slapped into gear. It was unbelievable how tight they were playing that song. And I'm just like, Well, what a great man thought is a lot of really respect respected and they're playing ability. And I That's the first time I played with Black Blues 2010 and then three years later I get the gig. It's kind of a weird, weird coincidence that is

spk_1:   46:57
that still cool? I am. I'm just thinking back to when I the first black and blue I ever heard was I was young and someone had a compilation tape and hold on to 18 was on it, and I was like, I freaking love this song But in Canada it was really and I've said this a 1,000,000 times. It was so hard to get certain albums here is like, Yeah, you get your poison and you get you know, like the Motley Crue's stuff and then sometimes you get like a A smaller bands. But sometimes it was really hard to find stuff. So there were certain bands for me that we're If somebody had it, I would be like, You have that? I can't believe it. Like black and blue was one of them. Y en ti umm keel. Like just all those bands. So sometimes that stuff was really hard for us to get. And I didn't I think I got ah, that vinyl copy of In heat in a delete bin for, like, three box. Yeah, you know what I mean? And this was after the fact that the album's legs were already it was like, two years later and they were trying to get rid of copies, right? But it was just appear it was kind of hard t get that stuff. And of course, much music might play. It might not. It it all depended. It wasn't like you on MTV, where there's, like, more heavy rotation. Um, yeah, and then

spk_0:   48:24
just funny, like in he is actually one of my favorites of the all the records. It's got a lot of aggressive songs on. It does a good stuff.

spk_1:   48:33
This is the song writing on that. I think they really evolved. Um uh, I think, isn't it it flow as well, but the songs were different from each other, right? And e. I really like that. All them a lot. It's a toss up for me between with a Love and and Heat, um, of Which one's my favorite? I like Nazi Nazi, and I like the debut, but those who are probably the ones that I really love. I mean, I love birds forever into production on with a love like yeah, you know, like there and there's some really good stuff on it. But I think, How do you ask me? Five years ago, which Black and Blue album was my favorite? I probably say without love, but now I think it is in heat.

spk_0:   49:14
Yeah, there's there's one song in there, at least great guns of fire. There's there's, uh, there's this middle section of the tune. It's got this rising guitar. If I play along with it, I'm gone. This sounds exactly like ashes in your mouth and negative, and sure enough, I listened to Ash in your mouth and checked it out like that is the same. Almost the same riff. I'm wondering if Dave Mustaine was influenced by Tommy there in some way because I know that he I know that Jamie ST James ended up singing backup vocals on one of the mega death records. Really? As I know, there's some influence there, but I just don't know how much. Wow. Yeah, uh, speaking I wanted to tell you a story of the Jamie told me just recently about black glue. He was He went to this this rainbow party where Eddie Trump was He was hosting a party, and all the rock stars were out in force that night. Jamie got to run into you, Stephen Mather, and he never met it. So he's talking to me. Hey, I just want you to know I really love your your drumming and your contribution to the first guns and roses record. Because Jamie is a drummer. Obviously, he really he really respected Stephen. And he goes, Yeah, it's Jamie ST James. James James. Oh, I show you something. Slipped through his own super fast, right? And he holds up this picture that has the 1st 2 lines, uh, all on 18. And he uses that as a daily affirmation. Really? Steven, Others like, uh, one small thing that's on my mind and my half dead, or am I doing fine? And that's one of his daily affirmations dies? Well, man, I don't know it's daily, but like he, he was very inspired by Jamie at some point, and Jamie called me. He's like, Dude, I know you love guns and Ros aside, you'll appreciate this story, and I'm just I d'oh, I totally appreciate it. It's amazing. I can only imagine if one of the most influential drummers on the plant, you know, literally that stuff Down is the top selling debut album and record selling history. If that drummer said, that's about a song I wrote, Oh man, I would lose my mind So I can understand you being pretty excited about that I

spk_1:   51:42
am. It's funny that it's talking about that debut album. When I was, I guess in 87 when it came out, no one had really heard of the band, but I saw I would see them in the magazines all the time. Yeah, I don't know if you remember the magazine blast, it was around asked. Yeah, it was around for a short time, and Theo pictures were really cool. The paper was a little bit thicker than metal edge, and it was really cool, but But they were always putting, like guns and roses. Foster pussy Kat. So, anyways, I haven't heard either band. And I got my mom to take me to the mall, and I was like, I got it. I want to go buy something. So I walk into this record store and ah, the girl says me, Can I help you with anything? I said? Yeah, I'm looking for a ah band called Guns and Roses. She goes Who? I've never heard of them. She was. But we do have this other band that just came in there Kind of like Aerosmith. They're cold faster, pussycat. But I've never heard of this Sons and Roses band. Yeah, it was just crazy to this day. That story stands at my mind. Right? Um and I'm probably a month later, I went back and the other records start up. There was, like, three record stores in this mall, right? Those were the good days, and, uh, I found it, and I ended up buying Kostopoulos got Harold Smith and guns and roses, like on tape. That day. But it was just so funny that it's just for this girl. I wonder if she ever thinks about it. And I, like, remember when that guy came in and Oscar guns and roses, you know, like who? I've never heard of them, right? It was just, you know, it's one of those things that stands out in your mind because they became like the big one of the biggest rock and roll bands. Right? Faster. Pussycat is great as they are. We're not one of the biggest rock and roll band, so

spk_0:   53:39
yeah, both still working, but makings drastically different number figures.

spk_1:   53:43
Yeah, exactly. Exactly.

spk_0:   53:45
I love faster. I've seen both of those bands recently, and there's something there's something that faster pussycat can do an audience. They really they have the ability to just make people go crazy. They really d'oh! And they may have his wide of audiences guns and roses. But they get people are in. Can I be like, completely honest little fuck get people wanna think

spk_1:   54:17
good point

spk_0:   54:19
just watching. I mean, people just gets ready and hot. They just ready to roll. And you see people just in the audience going after each other is. It's pretty, pretty intense to see it happened right in front of you and the guns and roses does that, too. But it's hard to see that when there's 40,000 people because they're just sitting in a chair watching this amazing

spk_1:   54:42
exact Did you did you ever see guns back in the day?

spk_0:   54:47
I never saw them before. The first time I saw guns was 2006 under you. Well, on the Chinese Krieger, it was the pre tour of Chinese democracy. Okay, that they were playing Chinese moxie songs. But they weren't. That was not yet. That's the That's the only gun show I saw until the reunion

spk_1:   55:08
until the very end. I saw them in 1991 in Toronto. Ah, before use their illusions were a So it was like June. Those came in September. Ah, Skid row, Open sleep for the growing had just hit number one that week. It just come in. So dizzy. Skid row and guns. Of course, Adler wasn't there, but Matt was is he was still in the band and it was just like they played for three fucking hours and it was just unbelievable. It was so good and I'll never have that show, like even with even with my and, you know, like Teddy Zigzag. I believe he was there, too, And Dizzy Reed was in the band and they have the backup singers. But they played all this material that people hadn't even heard, and the crowd was still went nuts for it. It was so it just you could tell that those albums were going to be good because of the crowd was like 30,030 40,000 people still into that music. And it was amazing.

spk_0:   56:14
Oh, yeah, Yeah, It is really amazing how they were able to maintain that Kik level every time a tour, you know, How does I mean there at that time? I mean, still to this day, they don't have full records, you know, they have the E. P, but four full length records. That's it.

spk_1:   56:34
It's crazy to think that they can go and play. And just like everybody knows every song, you know, you go out and see a lot of bands and, like people know the hits. But like with guns and roses, they're one of those bands that people listen to those albums like From Front to the Back, especially Appetite. And they know every song.

spk_0:   56:55
Yeah, exactly. And you could play anything goes right next to welcome to the jungle at night. Be like, yeah,

spk_1:   57:03
exactly. And like, You'd be like you here, Rocket Queen and it's like You gotta hear that song because so amazing, right? And it's just for in front of Bach Out of that all I'm so special and so amazing and

spk_0:   57:17
I love playing that song. The rock means on my favorite once like this God, it's got everything I like to do playing guitars, great guitar solos, saying rhythm tracks just really cool rhythm guitar parts. And then it's got slide and clean Everything. And each part is meticulously written in a way, this memorable men absolutely imperative. If you can provide, surrounded or play, it's not song, you know. That's one of the reasons I like guns and roses that much, because whatever part they're playing so much intention. It has to be there if you don't play it. People you know there's this thing that you can improvise. But if you don't improvise the way slash does it. You don't sound like slash

spk_1:   58:04
That's very hope. Yeah,

spk_0:   58:05
it's a It's a weird phenomenon like he's one of the only guys that every song plays got signature all over it, so rare

spk_1:   58:16
it is rare. It's like because a lot of guys, I mean, a lot of eighties guitar players, for instance, like, Yeah, they have a certain style like George Lynch has a certain style and there's certain things he does. But with Slosh, it's like above that it's does it. Soon as you hear, um, you know it's him. This is something that is playing right?

spk_0:   58:38
Exactly. George, like his needs air that way.

spk_1:   58:41
His leave is our way for sure. Yeah,

spk_0:   58:43
his ribs aren't always is like I mean, I could tell when I said George Riff, but that's because I'm a connoisseur of Rocket. Are nothing alike. I don't think that, like most, I don't think that non get our fans could you know Seo George wrote that, you know, yeah, where it's like slash keep out the riff. It's like That's definitely not an easy risk. Know about that.

spk_1:   59:07
I mean, with George, it's like the the thing that I like about Georges. I mean, it's stylistically how he how he solos but also like his rhythm parts to our There's just there's Something there's like a I don't even hot put it. There's just a little bit extra on his like, especially on the earlier, dark, unstoppable Lynch mom. Stop just away like he actually heal like kind of Bend Accord or, like just give it a little bit more. It's not like just playing a bunch. Of course there's there's, ah, identity to it.

spk_0:   59:40
Yeah, I agree, Yeah, yeah, like I'm like, uh, it's not love. That's totally got that what you're talking about. That's right. Rials. Yeah, totally. I Yeah,

spk_1:   59:59
he's I mean, I love is soloing, but he's actually one of my favorite like eighties rhythm, type of player type players. I mean, and I mean, I love Warren. The martini, too, because his style is, as he went on, his style got a lot different, too. It was just it's kind of his. His style means kind of unorthodox. At times. It's like the way the solos right, it's almost off time. It's like, is sometimes really bizarre.

spk_0:   1:0:26
Yeah, I agree, like like, uh, laid down the solo, and that is a little bit off. Yes, it's it's really just kind of rhythmic again. Quirky. Yeah. Still am A lot of interesting to listen to. I love worthy orgy.

spk_1:   1:0:43
We get 1st 0 amazing. And and I am going to say this on here. He should he should be in rat. But that's not up to me. Sorry, people's

spk_0:   1:0:54
I. Well, I think piece he's got his gig sewn up like I don't think other blasts coming back, you know? You know, everybody actually like to see the original lineup, and I love Warren the arty, But I'm really happy for my friend Georgia's if he has a killer killer player. Yeah, and the other guitarist in the band is another friend of mine, Chris Sanders. Action on Chris for like, since before, even to L. A way we're Buzz and we jammed a couple times and, uh, he I was just like, What are you doing when you're down there? It's like playing with World War Three. And I'm like, Isn't that Mandy life? Yeah, a plan of those guys like, Oh, that's cool. That's cool. Just play the Playboy mansion like Chris is. This has been around for a really long time. Jordan is just a FINA. The guy's unbelievable. Harrison. Uh uh.

spk_1:   1:1:57
So it's worth going to chuck it then because I was skeptical and like, it's hard for me because not warn. And I'm so used to warn and throw everything. Warren's always been there, right?

spk_0:   1:2:08
Yeah. I mean, weren't war has been the one. He was the one made stay in the group hip inland. Steven Tyler was got her. Stephen Pearcy was gone. He was always there, and he I think he just got tired. I think he's He doesn't need the tour because he's he's well off on. I think he just doesn't need Thio do that thing. And he was like, Well, I'm not It's my bed and so you guys can't rough without me. So no and sorry there's something like that. I don't know what really happened, but that there were There's been rumors about that her that in interviews, stuff like that, huh?

spk_1:   1:2:51
Yeah, that's right. It's kind of a weird situation because you have you had a blotter and the martini going on with it for years. And then and then one and Steven came back, and then all of a sudden they've You've got the band now. Also, it's was really strange situations, right?

spk_0:   1:3:11
Yeah, If it's anything like, if it's anything like the the ah, the Queen's right situation where those guys have to pay back Jefty, that's probably something like that where they have to work to pay out the guys that you still own businesses, they really l l c and all that stuff. So I'm sure that there's some sort of like if the judge made a settlement, I'm sure it was like, Well, fire Pan because they're part of that. I'll see so that it gets complicated. You know, I've talked Oh, many people about these kinds of businesses in and out of the music business, and it's like they're they're partners. Wow. All right, well, it's not just a simple is firing these guys. I just anybody that's gotta go through like business turmoil. I really just I empathize with them because it's hard like least brothers, and now they're just business partners. It's like a divorce. Yeah,

spk_1:   1:4:10
it's unknown. It takes away from the objective of starting a band in the beginning.

spk_0:   1:4:15
Yeah, exactly, which was to make great music. But once like millions of dollars. Get subjected is not. You have to be a different kind of friend because you're like millions of dollars changes $10,000 in change. People. Yeah, so, like $300 will change people. It's like we have fought for that. We fought for that $300 I want my share, you know? Well, I gotta pay. The T shirt got back, but really got pockets. The $300 or something because he needs drugs. You better believe the four other guys in the band like Pissed. You know, enough. Somebody's doing that with $10 million. You know, that's crazy, you know? I don't know, but I don't know. I don't know who's had that. That craziness happened, but, you know, that's the kind of thing that people don't really understand. Like fans of music, they understand that, like when the $1,000,000 gets ejected, the things it changes people to detoxify your mind, your mind says, like groovy is such a re, you know, such a pervasive thing in our culture and way, and it's hard, do you? No one ever thinks that they're gonna be the greedy one, you know, until it happens until they're just like, No, that's my month. And then someone goes, No, that's my money. And, well, I wrote this song. So it's my money. But you didn't. You didn't write the lyrics. You just said you did when we broke the record, and you put it on the publishing without telling anybody. So you got credit and the money, but I actually wrote those lyrics. Well, sorry. That was 10 years ago. What you gonna do about it? The city making my You want to keep my eye on the road or Yeah.

spk_1:   1:5:58
And that's that. I mean, that's the sick part of the business, too, right? And I mean, you think of you look at it a band like guns and roses or motley. In the beginning, they went from nothing to to have the money eventually, right? Yeah. Just using them. As as an example, right.

spk_0:   1:6:19
Guns and roses, Motley. Oh, yeah. I mean, there were big business Streak is yeah, you know, especially Nicky Sticks, man. His His story is like you both left home 14 or something, because yeah, family was abusive and crazy. And then he goes from Natchez Multimillionaire started. Yeah,

spk_1:   1:6:39
And what are you gonna do with that? And? Well, how are you gonna And then I mean, then you compound The pressure is on him, too, to sustain being one of the biggest bands, hard rock heavy metal bands in the eighties to sustain album after album and keep writing songs. And then you factor in the fact that he's a junkie and he's so got to do that. And look, man, people don't realize that

spk_0:   1:7:08
in a way, I'm I'm thankful that I didn't have to have that kind of pressure on me when I was younger. I mean, I'm not. I'm not well off now, but like, I'm comfortable and, yeah, I raised my daughter, and I do that thing. Yeah, but, you know, I'm I'm happy that I have, like, a much stronger, smarter head than I did when I was 18. So if I come across that kind of, you know, financial opportunity, I most likely won't have that tox if I'd mind around it out. You know, I have a lot of very strong support system around me that, you know, they're like, they know finance, and they know howto like, Hey, Look, you know, you got this money now, but you won't have it two years unless you do this, right? You know, like, Oh, man, I better go talk. Thio Financial Advisor. Yeah, you know, or you get a business manager, and that is it is, or whatever somebody that can help you with investment. Somebody that help you maintain that diet, you don't be broken five years. You actually sustain your family beyond your generation. That's that's what you know, I'm really thankful for that. I'm privileged enough to have that kind of those kind of friends around. So hopefully the future has good things in store financially, but yeah,

spk_1:   1:8:26
yeah, I mean, luckily, I mean, I have I Besides, I mean, I do this, but actually to all the listeners, they're they're actually have a full time job. Yeah, so I mean, I, uh I haven't got a job, which is good for me, because I can still do the things that I love to do. I mean, I'm a passionate about music and a positive it about all this stuff, but I also have a way to to sustain and paid my bills.

spk_0:   1:8:57
That's awesome, Man on me too. Like that's That's where I'm going to, like I teach occasion, you know, do other sort of things to make sure that money's on the table. Yeah. Most a lot of it comes from playing live music and recording albums and stuff like that. Um, currently working on a couple of different projects and no marking. But like some part of them, more often a time investor and making projects go. Yeah, So that, you know, I get a percentage when we get financially in town. And, uh uh, so, yeah, uh, one of the newest projects I'm working on, obviously the loyal order. Well, I was gonna be coming out pretty soon. Um, we're working on some some products, too. Get that out to the masses s. So he grass field for the loyal order lawyer dot com and, um oh, our Facebook in extreme. And then I'm also working on an album with my friend Sarah Moon, who, uh, is an amazing singer out of Portland, Oregon, and she she and I correct songs. We've been Karadic Sense for about five years now, and we recorded one of her last record. It was a ballot that we wrote together acoustic Alan, and, uh, we're We're writing more of a rock record this time, and it's not really great. And I didn't write her a couple of years ago. This guy, it was felt metamorphosis, and he's probably gonna be producing it. His name's Andy Corn, and it's a good little team over there. We got Sandy Berger. Sorry, not saying Jader, who works with Sammy Hagar from his Santa Hey guys, named Engineer. He made the last year of record, and Hey, and I've worked on several projects with Andy, and it's just a really great team of making solid rock and roll songs on Sarah is just like when we were writing songs together. We're talking about who used. I was like, I was shocked. But talk to Andy, See what he has to say, you know, way haven't finalized everything on that yet, but ah, we're working towards our pre production were a preparation for our pre production today. And, well, a lot of making records. Don't let anybody tell you that. You know, people make amazing records that sell knives. The dogs don't deserve sense. Her What? What? You have to do that you pay out to make amazing records than the you know, whatever it is that you have to do on the front end of it, the investment that it costs. Investment of your life, vest in your heart and soul in your mind, your own intellectual property. People say I should probably people should on it. And I'm against that, you know, because intellectual property, if you come up with an idea that's nobody else's, you know, you made you there's people that he's stolen things and that's why there's courts of law. But you know, when you come up with an amazing idea lots and lots of last unless people want it, you should be compensated for. I agree. Totally. So

spk_1:   1:12:24
you shouldn't be ripped off for your you know, your abilities and what you put in. Yeah, I mean, I just Yeah, you just I mean here So many years stories. It's unfortunate.

spk_0:   1:12:39
Yeah, I t. To get this some of the songs on this new lawyer, another record. It's like I invested money and a very expensive Les Paul and a very expensive amplifier and pedals to make my sound the way it sounds to get my evening sound and that we paid her an engineer too. Thio record what we said This guy produced us and nature. It sounded you need from the other things that we were doing at a time arguing And like, I like this rebound out of the sky, This rip, You know, that kind of like put your friendships on the line emotional turmoil that you go through, Just get a song and then you put a whole record of him out. It's just like, Oh, my God, Hey, yeah, it takes a lot, a lot of effort and people just don't understand. They think we're just jacking off in our room. Having a good time is like it is. But Justus, hard as it was, Thio, you know that I'm not saying hard, but like to build a house. It takes professionals in. You're in a field to get that same thing done, and you have to pay them to do it.

spk_1:   1:13:50
Put her in if

spk_0:   1:13:50
that in the end doesn't sell their out, everything yeah, So, like, if were the end of our project, our house that nobody buys anything and they go there to take it for free you imagine somebody moving into a house that they didn't build, you know, they didn't pay for. That's kind of what they do with our records. You know,

spk_1:   1:14:09
it is an experience.

spk_0:   1:14:11
We But I mean, I don't want to, like, start a whole war about, like, Napster and all that stuff that's a warrant and fight, and we live in the modern world that we live in. So our new record is basically just a calling card for buying our T shirts, huh?

spk_1:   1:14:25
Yeah, it's crazy, but it

spk_0:   1:14:27
is. It's still a little weird because I grew up in the air that we all bought.

spk_1:   1:14:32
Bought me. It's

spk_0:   1:14:33
it's treated. Yeah, left music. Yeah.

spk_1:   1:14:36
I mean, I was I was the guy that would be like, Oh, new Motley Crue. 1994. It's commentated On Tuesday, we gotta go to the record store and wait in line for the doors to open so we can go buy it. Exactly. You know, now let's look with that

spk_0:   1:14:53
records. Great.

spk_1:   1:14:54
Oh, it's amazing. I mean, it's is such a good hour, but it is. I mean, that's just another. I mean, there was many albums like that is Remember when the block album came in Metallica and my buddies and I, we lived in a small town. So we're like, we got to get a ride into, like, the bigger town because we gotta go to the record store because that albums and we don't have it yet, you know? Yeah, it wasn't done. That's the way it was. And now it's just so I can go on the computer and I can pay nothing for. I know I don't want to get in on the war with anybody, but I thought either. But so getting back Thio Loyal Order a video for Ready for Dad a few weeks ago. Man, I have to say that it's like a totally different sound from black and blue. It's like I said to me, that was unexpected. I didn't expect it to sound like it did, and I loved it. I just think that I think the band's amazing, Um, now we owe you guys a reassigned to the MP, which is Dave Ellison's label.

spk_0:   1:15:58
Yes, we're way as a unique situation. We're working with Tom, he's already and P and, uh, we're not signed to a recording contract where they give us money. And, yeah, I think we are signed and working with them. Uh, as they are a conduit that we can access the music business. Does that make sense? So we haven't Technically, we have a record deal with that. But we are investing in a a, uh, sort of, uh, quote unquote world domination package, where it's like we're going in and where we're getting our record onto the radio. So they're helping us make that. So our primary investor is our B singer and his record label, you know, media is actually investing in that, and he's sort of We have a distribute distribution company called Bar and MPs are labeled, and way is we're trying to create a new business model for, you know, for the music is you know, because for a smaller bands, I mean, like, you don't get 10,000. 20,000. 50,000 to get your record made. You know, like some other bands, like bigger names like named George Lance. You make it like a payout to make a record from front here or something. I don't I don't know. But from what I hear, nobody gets financial until the records done, you know? So we're trying to figure out a, you know, make our brand new record go, and it's a different. It's a different world out there that used to be so, um are all right when we're looking for other investors in our project to you like sponsors. Um, that might be willing to ah, invest in us for or other things, you know, to get us on the George and stuff like that because, you know, we're the songs that we have been like. He said he really liked are ready for dead. And I appreciate that. You know where we were. We're looking to do more of that. And we want to see, you know, he wants people. To see this band is, like a more state of the art kind of way. You know, we're not trying to do this is a, uh you know what? Okay, We're all in our forties, you know, put a record out. Do you know it's definitely not that. Is this a blood sweat and tears kind of, uh, event through this thing? And we fought for a long time to find the right people in the right conduits. to make this happen in a business sense. And we've been unit. And, you know, we have used every resource that we have t o make this go and, you know, it might not do anything, but I think the song

spk_1:   1:19:11
I mean, if if the rest of the albums is good is that song I am totally sunk Cannot wait, man,

spk_0:   1:19:18
because it iss I mean, I think the rest of the record is Justus. Good is ready for you now

spk_1:   1:19:23
I can't wait for so you know,

spk_0:   1:19:25
like I was talking about slash out. Everything is like these personal attention, everything. That's exactly why I'm from shredding guitar for this. It's like everything on my chart. Jax has to have my personal does not, That is not

spk_1:   1:19:41
in months. That's kind of that's kind of the old Yeah, that's you'll like We were talking about before that whole ladies approach to guitar playing, which we don't get now. It's just like yeah, to me, it seems like a lot of new or albums. It's just like, Okay, what guitars rock on something and it doesn't sound. There's not an identity to it where I think I think in the seventies and the eighties. There was identity to the entire plane.

spk_0:   1:20:11
Yeah, well, they put a lot more effort into playing a tire back then. You know, there is a you know, the and I came up in the eighties, so that's steeped in that, you know? And I think that the some of those guys, you know, the modern, more modern guys, they, you know, like maybe they don't have an identity or whatever. It is more about the band or something. Maybe more about brand. Uh, when we came up in the eighties, there was like, Yeah, it's about the brand. But each person in that grand as that has, you know, you gotta be you're gonna be Ringo, George or John hurt your back. Yeah. So And I'm like, Well, I'm gonna be my slash like I'm gonna be I'm either gonna be a slasher, Marty for the date Mustaine. Or like Jake set field. You know, whatever it is that I'm doing, it's gonna have that grand cook touch to make it sound like me. Yeah, same way Tommy dare did with all of these songs. It's like, Yeah, that sounds like fucking Tommy. There It doesn't sound like he's really I can hear the influence, but doesn't sound case. Really? Yeah, I was like, Tommy,

spk_1:   1:21:16
you tell him he's cool. Player. Yeah, very cool player. I mean, well, the cellphone, those black and blue albums he's got, There's there's touches on there that are so cool. Um,

spk_0:   1:21:26
yeah, I love Ace. So needed, like, disparaged way. I'm just saying, Like when I complete what I comparing. It's like I know that Tommy was influenced by his yet, but on the Black Sea, so

spk_1:   1:21:40
But he does a great job being a

spk_0:   1:21:43
Oh, yeah, I used to Modern kiss, you know, the part of me that wishes Ace could be in that group, you know, is this huge? I wish ace could still you that, you know, I really do. Because decision amazing artists. And, you know, I'm working with Paul and Jeanne. That just water, I guess.

spk_1:   1:22:07
Yeah, just stylistically, he's another guy. There's something about a slink. His vocals aren't the greatest thing in the world, but it's just got so much character to it. His days when I erase when I hear a saying he's my favorite because I just I mean I love the frailties, comma dollars. And I love a singing on And it's because of just his approach. It's just, like, kind of it always captured me Was just like, Oh, this guy, this guy's cool, man. Like there's just something about him, right?

spk_0:   1:22:42
Oh, yeah. Is he like I remember. I remember hearing the first East like, Shocked me. Yeah. I was totally saying Oh, my God. Yeah, you know, that's so cool. Yes. And then off one of my other first records at the time. You know, I had, uh it really started that Cannot I think I got three of us on it. The senior that I got crazy. Nice. Not sure. I think

spk_1:   1:23:10
they're both

spk_0:   1:23:10
love. I

spk_1:   1:23:12
need you love it.

spk_0:   1:23:14
Every song is just ridiculous. And you know, Todd Howard seems like that

spk_1:   1:23:22
in the end. I am forgetting.

spk_0:   1:23:25
Yeah, just unbelievable. Drummer A surround himself with the best of the best. Yeah, I wish that I wish that man was still gone but you know, lucky for my buddies and rock and roll resting

spk_1:   1:23:38
place is cool. Actually, I went there. I went. I went to the residency, uh, two years ago and I got this. You know, I haven't I can't wait. Hopefully, they'll come up here. I'll get it to go down somewhere close in the States to go see them. Because I would love to see that

spk_0:   1:23:57
you I haven't seen it. I've seen some video of it, and I just you know, Phillip, Jeremy and Ryan are great. They just they bring everything and mass are now playing drunks. And they have bread Francis for well, but like that, he's actually so sure of that group, you know, like you said. Yeah, he just he just plays those ace parts so good. I love listening to that. Played such a great

spk_1:   1:24:25
cool. I am. I just did an interview. Where were a guy? And at the end of the guy we interviewed, we were talking about Brian Fits and, uh, Todd Currents doing the kissing with Kulik and how great that was doing all that 80 stuff with Todd current sitting over Paul Stanley stuff. I don't know if you've seen that, but oh, it's so good. No talk. Oh, man. It's so good. It is so good. And then the bass player does all the genes stuff, right? but Todd turns just kills it on on the Paul Stanley stuff. Just kills it anyways. Brandon, I I think that's pretty much all I've got for tonight. And I mean, we talked quite extensively on quite a few topics. And I really appreciate you taking the time with me,

spk_0:   1:25:15
you know, problem Thais. And I really enjoyed chatting with you. And, uh, it's kind of a different way to dio like a rock and roll interview. Sometimes it's a little more business focus and like the releases and I don't know, I've always wanted to hear, like more Charlie Rose had been. Or do you like rock Mass where it's like you talk about all kinds of different stuff? Yeah. Uh, so I appreciate you kind of letting you

spk_1:   1:25:41
No, it was that that was fun. And that's kind of what Lately, my getting into this stuff is tryingto mean. It's rock talk, but it's like I think it's kind of cool to have artists talk about their influences, and you know what they're into. So So I really appreciate that.

spk_0:   1:25:58
Well, I guess i'll be Look forward to chatting with you some other time soon.

spk_1:   1:26:03
Yes. Yes. Okay. all right, Brain, Will you have a good night and we'll talk to you, man. Thank you. You're talking way. No way.